Repeating phonograph



REPEATING PHONOGRAPH Filed May 2a. 1 928 l 5 sheets-s118914 /a 442 .ATTORNEYS c'. L. FERGUSON REPEATING PHONOG'RAPH Filed May 28, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY l @MMMHM ATTORNEY;

Nov. 2,2, 1932.

L 7 ww/wn@ Nov. 212', -1-932.

C. L, FERGUSON REPEATING PHoNoGRAPH Fivled May 28, 1928 Sheetg-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYLS` Nov. 22, 1932.4 c. L. FERGUSON REPEATING PHoNoGRAPH Filed May 2.8, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ravi (Nl/ENTOR.

ATTORNEY c. l.. FERGUsN 1,888,660

REPEATING PHONQGRAPH NUV: 22,

5 sheets-sheet 5 Filed May 28, 1928 j /BL ab( INVENTO-R. 4L BY az? M v u flnmnfmmfww M- Patented Nov. 1932 UNITED STATES CARL L. FERGUSON, F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA BEPEATING -PHONOGRAPH ppncaeion mea nay 2s, 192s. serial No. 281,136.

This invention relates to an apparatus for playing a plurality o fre'cords or to that type of phonograph which has an automatic record changer organized therewith.

One of theprincipal objects of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of this 'character which, while of compact construction and well adapted to be completely housed in the usual forms of cabinets, Vis

1o capable of handling and automatically and successively playing a relatively large num ber of records. Thirty or more records may be handled and successively pla ed and of course any lesser number may be utilized. The machine first plays one side of each of the records and then the other sides thereof.

Along with these advantages, the bank ofgk records is so positioned and the records are so handled that all of the records except the l onerbeing played are concealed within the cabinet and yet there is a minimum interval between the playing of the records.

Another important object resides in the provision of a machine of this character '25 which positively handles and controls'tlie records throughout all of theirV transfer movements and this without subjecting the records to any injurious or destructive forces. During' all transfer movements the records are positively gripped and transported.

v Another object of the invention resides in the co-ordination'A and organization of the various instrumentalities of themachine whereb the 'several operations are'properlya l contro ed and synchronized and are autov matically carried out. Y

A further object is to provide a machine of this character and having these advanl tages and which is of 'sim le and durable 40' construction, reliable ande ective in operation and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. In general the machine comprises suitable recor 4 laying means, a storage station for the bul of the records, transfer means for takin a record from the storage station and trans erring it to therecord playing means and vice versa, a system of controls whereby the transfer means and the rrecord playing means are started and stopped automatically at the proper timesfand various auxiliary ap rpurtenances which facilitate and insure proper operation of the major elements as will' be hereinafter more fully described.

In 4accordance with the present invention 55 the recordplaying means may comprise a motor driven turn table with which suitable sound reproducing mechanism coaets. The sound reproducing mechanism includes the usual horizontally swinging arm which, in @o the presentinstance, is a so mounted for vertical movement. This arm carries the usual mechanical re roducer or if electricalreproduction is to e employed carries the usual microphoneconnected in any suitable way to the amplifying means. The storage station for the records underlies the turn-'table and its motor andcomprises an endless storage 'rack made up of an endless belt trained around suitable rollers and having a plurality of parallel transversely extending strips fastened thereto and defining pockets for receiving and supporting theorecords. s Y 4 As indicated, the transfer means takes a record from the storage rack, carries up to and deposits it on the turn table and simultaneously it takes a lrecord from the turn table and returns it to the storage rack.

j Preferably, this transfer means comprises a I8.0 p

pair of endless and fiexible transfer carriers or members such'as chains, or the like, which are so mounted as to extend along the opposite sides of the turn table and also to extend to the-receivin and discharge ends of 35 the storage rack. n these endless flexible elements or chains spaced 'sets of grippers are carried, the grippers preferably conslsting of spring clips designed to embrace and grip the edges of the records. 4At the receiv- 90 ing and discharge ends of the storage rack and adjacent the turn table, cams are provided and'are located and designed to coact with the clips to open the clips at the proper times wherebythe clips are adapted to engage and release the records.

The transfer chains are driven from an electric, motor through suitable reduction gearing `and whenever the transfer chains are driven thespring motor which actuates the loo turn table is rewound by virtue of they provision of gearing between the transfer drive and the spring motor, this windingy gearing having a slip clutch incorporated therein to reclude excessive winding and consequent injury to the spring motor..

A'main automatic switch ifs incorporated 1n the controlling circuit ofthe electric motor employed to drive the transfer means and this switch is opened and closed under the influence of the sound reproducing mechah4 nism so that, when the sound reproducing mechanism completes the playing of a record, it automatlcally closes this switch and starts the motor thereby driving the transfer chains. A controlling camjis driven in synchronism with the transfer chains and as soon as these chains start to move the cam is actuated and a train of mechanism is set in motionI to automatically apply the brake governing the motion of the turn table and to actuate means provided for lifting the arm of the sound reproducing mechanism. This stopping of the turn table and the lifting of the reproducer occurs just prior to the e11- gagement of the adjacent set of clips with a record on the turn table inasmuch as these clips must move off their cams before they canengage the record. The record having been engaged is carried along with the chains back to the receiving end of the storage rack. Simultaneously, a new record is transferred from the sto-rage rack to the turn table and when the new record is deposited on the turn table, a lug on one of the transfer chains engages a projection on the tone arm of the reproducer to repositio-n the reproducer, that is, to swing it over to initial playing position. As the reproducer reaches initial playing position it again actuates the main automatic switch to shut oit the. electric motor and stop the transfer drive. At this time the main cam has completed a `revolution and `operates its associated train of mechanism to release the turn table and to permit the reproducer to lower. The record is then played and upon completion of the playing of the record this cycle of operation is repeated.

Incorporated in the circuit` with the main automatic switch described is a manually operable switch which is utilized for starting andstopping the machine. In order to prevent the spring motor from .running down in the event the manually operable switch is opened to stop the machine during the playing of a record and also for the purpose of insuring positioning 'of the parts for immediate resumption of the automatic operation upon subsequent closing of the manually loperable switch, a shunt path is provided in the transfer motor circuit around the manually operable switch and has an auxiliary automatic switch incorporated therein. This auxiliary automatic switch includes a pair of normally closed contacts and an operating Voperable switch is opened device controlled by lugs on one of the transfer chains for opening the normally closed contacts ofI the auxiliary automatic switch whenever a record is brought up to a position adjacent the turn table. g

As long as the manually operable switch is closed, the auxiliary automatic switch, ir,` respective of whether it is opened or closed, has no effect on the operation as it merely controls a shunt path around the closed manually operable switch, but when the manuallyvv operable switch is opened, the auxiliaiiytl automatic switch and the main automatic switch act conjointly to complete the transfer motor circuit when both are' closed. However, with the manually operable switch open,'both automatic switches must be closed to cause operation of the transv fer motor as, if either automatic switch is opened, the transfer motor circuit is broken.

f' ith this arrangement, if the manually while a record is being played, the playing of the record continues until the record has been completely played. Upon complet-ion of the playing of the record, the contacts of the main automatic v switch are closed by the sound reproducing mechanism, and as the contacts of the auxiliary automatic switch are normally closed (and are closed at this time), the transfer motor circuit is completed and the played record is picked up from the turn table and carried toward the receiving end of the storage station while a new record is being advanced from the discharge end of the storage station toward the turn table. This has also actuated the main cam :1nd caused application ofthe turn table brake and elevation of the reprmlucer.` As the new record approaches a position immediately adjacent the turn table, a lug on one of the transfer chains or on one of its grippers, engages the operating device. for the auxiliar)v automatic switch and opens the auxiliary automatic switch thereby ln'eaking the transfer motor circuit and stopping the new record in a position immediately adjacent the vturn table. In this positionpof the new record, the lug on one of its grippers has not advanced so far as to repositiou the reprmlucer and. open the main automatic switch and consequently upon subsequent closing of the manually operable switch, the Completed, and the new record advanced the slight distance necessary to deposit it on the turn table and to rcposition the reproducer thus opening the main automatic switch and breaking the transfer motor circuit.

When a recordhas been carried from the discharge end of the storage. station to the turn table and back to the receiving end of the storage station it is reversed so that the next time that it is brought back to the turn table its opposite face is presentedfor playing. Due to this feature and to the fact that transfer motor circuit is fill "from one of the transfer chains.

passage of thev record to its proper position a relatively large number of records may be handled the machine can play continuously for hours without repeating any record.

Each time a record is deposited on the turn table 'it is automatically centered thereon by virtue of theaction of a pair of centering fingers 'cooperably disposed with respect to the turn table and operated automaticrzly e over the-turn table and over the center pin thereof is facilitated and insured by virtue of the provision of a vertically movable top which is elevated during the transferring of the records but which is automatically lowered under the control of the main cam when a record is deposited on the turn table and is being played. r

During each record transferring oper-ation the storage rack is automatically advanced to feed the records to the discharge end of the storage station and to position them successfully incooperative relation to the clips which pick the records up and carry them onto the turn table.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed. out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which: Y

Figure 1 is a View in end elevation showing the machine embodying the present invention with the cabinet omltted for the sake of illustration;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 1, the shiftable top being omitted to permit ofillustration of the underlying parts; v

Figure 3 is a-view in side elevation looking toward the left in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the opposite side ofthe machine;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on line 5 5 of Figure2 showing the main cam and the train of mechanism actuated thereby;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6 -6 of Fi ure 5;

igure 7 is a detail view partly in elevation and partly diagrammatic showing the switches employed for controlling the motor circuit vof the transfer drive;

Figure 8 is a detail View partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the means for advancing the storage rack;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view on line 9-9 of Figure 8; Y

Figure 10 is a sectional view on line 10`10 of Figure 9 g A Figure 11jis ai detail view partly 1n sectlon and partly in elevation showing vthe slip clutch embodied in the means for rewinding the turn table motor;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view in section taken on line 12-12 of Figure 5; Y

Figure 13 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section illustrating the gearing embodied in the transfer drive and in the winding means for the spring motor;

Figure 14 is Va fragmentary perspective view illustrating the action of the centering iinkglers for the records deposited on the turn ta e;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in centralvertical section illustrating the action of the separating and guiding finger for the records returned to the storage rack, the adjacent parts being omitted for the sake of simplicity in illustration; and

Figure 16 is a 4fragmentary perspective view showing the means employed for dis-v engaging each of the spring clips from the record when the latter is to be deposited on the turn table. v

General frame construction mounted in a suitable cabinet (not shown) and which supports a pair of spaced U-shaped brackets 2 fastened to the plate 1 by screws 3.

The legs 4 of the brackets 2 extend vertically and are fastened to longitudinal supporting bars 5. Transversely extending cross rods 6 are mounted on these bars 5 and support side plates 7 and 8, the side plates being held in proper position by means of spacing sleeves 9 tted on the rods and interposed between the plates 7-and 8 and the bars 5 and by means of nuts 10 threaded on the ends of the cross rods 6 and bearing against the plates 7 and 8.

The upper ends of the side plates 7 and 8 v are held in proper spaced relation by means of cross rods 11 which may be shouldered or equipped with spacing sleeves and which have their-ends projecting through openings in the side plates 7 and 8 and receiving nuts 12 which bear against the side plates.

Sound reproducing means A cross plate15 extends traversely' between and is supported on the side plates 7 and 8 and this cross plate carries a bracket 16. -The bracket 16 and plate 15 are provided with bearings' in which a turn table spindle 17 is 'rotatably fitted, the spindle carrying a turn fa swingable arm 21, whichmay carry the usualmechanical reproducer 22 or a micro-- phone-if electrical reproduction is employed.. Thearm121 is hollow to provide the tone arm for/the: reproducer 22 and is swivele-d as at.

23 on. a/.supporting' fitting 24 having trunnions25.- rotatably fitted in the bearlngs providedy therefor in a bracket- 26 secured to the adjacent side plate 8; With this construetion the: reproducer may not only swing hori- L zontally to traverse the record but may be alsotilted vertically .to move the reproducer and its: stylus toward and away from the record.. The fitting 24 maybe connected with a suitable amplifier which may be built into the cabinet or if electrical reproduction is utilize-d' the reproducer employed may be appropriately connected to a remotely located .about rollers 32 having shafts or trunnions 33 rotatably' mounted in bearings provided therefor in the longitudinal supporting bars 5f Atclose intervals throughout the length of the belt 31 transversely extending strips 34 are provided and are arranged parallel to each other, the. strips 34 being fastened to the belt in. any suitable manner as for instance by screws 35 see Figure 9) which passes through the belt and screw into the strips 34, the heads of the screws abutting Washers 36 between these heads and the underside of the belt 31. The upper run of the storage rack is the only part thereof that carries the record and it is prevented from sagging and otherwise properly supported by virtue of the provision of a track 37 extending between the rollers 32 and supported on the bars 5. This track 37 .has grooves 38 to accommodate the heads of the screws 35 and the Washers 36 and it alsol has a longitudinal slot 39 extending entirely therethrough and part Way of its length and communicating with longitudinal grooves 39a extending only part way therethrough but the full length of the track and all serving a purpose which Will'be hereinafter mor e fully described.`

Reco-WZ transfer means formed with or 1,8ssgeeo fixed on: shafts 47 rotatably mounted in the sidepla-.tes7` and Saeljacent the corners there of; As indica-ted, the sprocket wheels are arranged` at the corners ofthe side plates and project beyond the same so that the severa-l runs of' thel sprocketv chains are located beyoud the edges-i of' the side plates,

Spaced sets of grippers` are carried by the sprocket chains 41 and 42 and in the present, instancefffour sets of fgrippers are provided, eachl set of grippers consisting of a pair 0f spring clips with one member of 'each pair fastened to the chain 41 and the other member of each pair fastened to the chain 42,

The members of each pair of grippers are located exactly opposite t0 each other. The grippers of one set are designated at 50 and 5'0" and of the other sets at. 51 and 51', 52 andl 52', and 53 and 53.

'F he `grippers are all of identical construction and each comprises a resilient body porton 54 suitably fixed to gripping arms 55 and tending 'to urge the gripping arms 55 t0- Ward each other. One of the gripping arms is extended as at 56 and fastened to the transfer chain of which it 1s an associate.

return runs of the transfer chains extend' along and below the storage rack. One end of the storage rack receives the records returned from thel turn table and such receiving end is the right hand end as shown in Figures 2 and. 4, While the opposite end of the storage rack constitutes the discharge lend thereof. As indicated, parallel runs of the transfer chains stra ddle both ends of the storage rack and at each end the parallel runs of the transfer chains are located opposite or in the same vertical plane as the end pocket defined by the two transverse strips located .above the end r'oller. Thus, at the discharge .end of the storage rack the runs of the transfer chains parallel the end pocket and as the grippers 50 and 50 move up with these runs they are positioned opposite this endpocket. At this time these grippers 50 and 50 are automatically opened by cams 60 integrally suitably fixed to the adjacent ends of the side plates 7 and 8 and coacting with the operating arms 57 of the clips 50 and 50. To prevent the clips from moving bodily under theinucnce of the cams and thus twisting the chains, guide rails 61 are provided to engage the arms 56, the guide rails being located opposite the ends of the side plates and being rigidly supported there- -The other gripping arm also has an extension on 4by means of brackets 62 and reinforced by cross members 63.

At the receiving end of the storage rack a similar arrangement is provided and comprises cams coacting with the arms 57 of the clips 52 and 52', as will be understood from Figure 2. Guide ra'ls 66 are provided and coact with the ,arms 56 ofthe clips 52 and 52 and are held in position by brackets 67 and reinforced by cross members 68.

The top edges of the side plates 7 and .8 opposite the turn table 18 are provided with cams 69 illustrated in Figures` 1 and 2 as coacting with the arms 56 ofthe clips 51 and 51to open these clips and permit the record to drop onto they turn table. The armsY 57 of the clips 51 and 51 are held down at this time by means of guide brackets 70 fastened to the side plates and overlying the cams 69, as shown in Figures 6 and 16.

From the foregoing it will be understood that as the chains are driven the set of clips 50 and'50 is automatically opened to receive a record at the discharge end of the storage rack. At the proper time this set lof clips 50 and 50 is released by the cams and grips the record to pick it up and carry it along with the chains. At the same time the set of clips 51 and 51" have picked up their record on the turn table and are returning to the storage rack. During this action the other active set of clins 52 and 52 have moved down past the receiving end of the storafe rack and have been acted on by the cams 65 to release their record and deposit it in a pocket of the storage rack.

Transfer dri/ve Means for driving the transfer chains is provided and comprises an electric motor` .suitably supported on one of the side plates and having its armature shaft 7 5 coupled at 76 to a worm shaft 77 having a worm 78 meshing with a worm wheel 79 fixed to a shaft 80'jouraled-in the side plate 7 and having a pinion 81 fixed thereto and meshing with ali intermediate gear 82, the latter also being Spng motor mechanism `Whenever thechains 41 and 42 are driven Ithe spring motor 19 for driving the turn 'table is also wound and for this purpose a worm wheel 85 also meshes with the worm 78 and is fixed to a. shaft 86 having a. sprocket wheel 487 mounted thereon. The sprocket wheel 87 is connected to the shaft 86 through a slip clutch designated generally at 88 and comprising a disk 89 fixed to the shaft 86 and having a felt facing or felt washer 90 inter-v posed between it and a disk 91 rigidly connected to or formed integrally with the sprocket wheel 87. The disk 91 is pressed against the friction facing 90 and consequently toward the disk 89 b means-of a spring washer 92 mounted on t e shaft 86 and tensioned by means of a nut 93 threadedon the shaft 86 and engaging the washer 92, the nut 93 being locked in position by a set 'screw 94.

A sprocket chain 95 istrained over the sprocket wheel 87 and around a sprocket wheel 96 mounted on a shaft 97 geared to the spring motor as at 98. A conventional pawl and ratchet 99 prevents retrograde movement of the shaft 97.

Uontrols foia transfer drve As shown in Figure 7, the electric motor 75 is controlled by means of amain automatic switch designatedgenerally at 100, a manu- -ally operable switch designated generally at side P of the power line. The other side of switch 102 is incorporated in a shunt path provided around the terminals of the manually operable switch 101, and for this purpose a wire 102 electrically connects one of the contacts '102a of the switch 102 with the power line P and a wire 103 connectsthe other contact "102D of the switch 102 with the wire 101. The manuallyV operable switch 101 may be of any-suitable type and may be controlled from a remote point. The con tacts 102 and 102b are of the spring or blade type and when released automatically separate under the action of their spring carriers. Normally, however, these contacts 102a and 102h are held in engagement by a spring biased operating device which may comprise a lever 103 fulcrumed on the panel and biased by a spring 104 to engage the contact 102b and press it into engagement with the contact 102. The upper arm of this operating lever 103 is desi ated at 104 'and is disposed in the path `o the lugs 155 providedlon the grippers of the. adjacent transfer chain, and when engaged bythese 125 grippers or by their lugs the lever 103 is rocked against the action of the sprin 104.v

to release the contacts 102' and 102b an permit them to disengage. As shown, the lever 103 is located to one side of the switch 100 and consequently it isrocked by the lugs on icc i the grippers of the adjacent transfer chain before these grippers approach the operat# ing means for the main automatic switch 100, which is now to be described.

The contact a is carried on but insulated from an operating lever 107 fulcrumed as at 107l on a panel provided therefor on a side of the machine and having a coacting bell crank operating lever 108 associated therewith, the lever 108 being fulcrumed Ias at 109 on the panel and having its arm 108 cooperable with a notch 107 of the lever 107, the levers 107 and 108 are biased to proper position by means ofy a `retractile lcoil spring 110 having its ends connected with the levers. The operating levers for the main automatic switch 100 are engaged and actuated-bv. an operating pin 112 fixed to the tone arm 21 of the sound reproducer and partaking of the horizontal swinging motion thereof. The arrangement is such that when the reproduer has swung to the position that it occupies when the playing of a record is completed, the pin 112 will move over and engage an adjustable abutment 112a provided on the lever 107 thereby swinging t e lever 107 in a clockwise'direction as viewed in Figure 7 -to cause the con-l tacts 100 and 100b to engage, thus .completing the main path through and starting the motor provided the manually,7 operable switch 101 is closed. When the motor vis thus energized it drives the transfer chains to take the record from the turn table and return it to the storage station and to deposit a new record on the turn table. Before this transfer is effected, however, the reproducer is lifted away from the record and the turn table is stopped automatically in a manner which will be hereinafter described.

Main cam control As shown in Figure 5, the shaft 47 on which the sprocket wheels 44 and 44 are fixed, has a pinion 115 secured thereto, the pinion 115 meshing with a gear .116 rotatably fixed on a camshaft 117 rotatably supported on the side plate 8. On this shaft 117 a main cam 118 is secured and for the major portion of its extent its periphery is circular but at one portion is provided with a lcam recess 119. A follower or cam lever 120 is pivoted as at 121 onthe adjacent side platev When the cam 118 is turned and the follower is forced out of t-he recess 119 and onto the periphery of the cam the lever 120 is rocked in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5 thus pulling the link 124to the right and swinging the lifting, lever 128 to raise its curved arm to the dotted line position thereyby swinging the arm 131 to elevate the reproducer as illustrated in dotted lines in F igure' 6. This upward swinging movement l,of the larm 131 brings' it close under the turn table and causes a brake shoe 132 fixed on the arm 131 to engage the brake drum 133 constituted by the flange of the'turn table thereby stopping the rotation of the turn table.

The lowering of the reproducer is cushioned by means of a dash pot designated generally at 134 and including a cylinder 135 carried by a bracket arm 136 fixed as at 137 to the side plate 8, and a piston 138 operates in the cylinder and connected to a piston rod139 having a pin and slot or other suitable connection 140 with the arm 131.

Skz'ftable top structure and operating mecham'sm therefor studs 143 which slide through bearing brackets 144 lixedly supported on the side plates. Compression coil springs 145 encircle the guide studs 143 and engage heads at the lower ends of the studs and also engage the brackets to bias the top 141 to its lowermost position. This lowermost position or inactive position is occupied whenever a record is being played but during the transferring operations the top is automatically elevated and for this purpose levers 146 are provided and are fixed to rock shafts 147 rotatably mounted on the side plates. The levers 146 have camming fingers 148 engaging the underside rof the top plate and 'have their arms 149 tied together by a link 150. Similar camming lingers 148l are,

fixed to the rock shafts 147 at spaced points and also engage the'underside of the top plate 141. One ofthe levers 146 is connected by y means of a link 1751 with the follower lever 120. A retractile coil spring 152 has one end anchored asat 153 on one ofthe side plates and has its other end connected as at 154 to one of the arms 149 and tends to .swing the levers 146 in a clockwise-directionas shown in Figure 5 thereby pulling on the link 151 and tending to hold the follower V120 engaged with the cam 118. The springs 145 supplement the action of the springs 152 in this respect.

Thel top plate 141 has a central opening to accommodate the turn table.

Operation olf main cam control and automatic switch During the time a record is being played released. The top 141 is also held down by its springs 145 at'this time. When the playing of a record is completed the pin 112 swings the lever 107 to engage contacts 100 and 100b thereby closing the circuit through motor 75 and starting the transfer chains 41 and 42 in motion and rotating the main cam 118 to cause thel roller 123 to ride up out of the recess 119 and onto the periphery of the cam 118 and consequently swingngthe follower lever 120 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5. When the main cam 118 swings the follower lever 120 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5, the arm 131 is raised to apply brake 132 'and stop the turn table and simultaneously elevates thev tone arm 21 and its sound box., The tone arm starts to rise before the brake is applied. At the same time the levers 146 are rocked to cause the camming fingers 148 and 148a to raise the shiftable top 141. This occurs immediately after the transfer chains have' been started and just before they have moved the clips 51 and 51 off of the cams 69. As soon as the clips move oil' of the cams `69 the lower clip arms 57 raise up and lift the record until the record engages the upper clip arms 55. The record is now positively held by the grippers and is carried along with the chains and overand down to the receiving end of the storage station. the clips 50 and 50 which have previouslyT engaged the record at the discharge end of the storage station, move with the chains 41 "i top and 42 to carry the record up over the raised 14.1'. As the record taken from -the d'scharge end of the storage station is brought into position over the turn table one of a number of lugs 155 on the chain 42 engages the pin 112 on the tone arm'to swing the tone arm and reproducer back to initial plane position. These lugs 155 are constituted by vertical extensions on the arms 56 of the clips 50', 51', 52 and 53', and in the phase of the operation shown in the. drawings, the lugs 155 coacting with the pin 112 is formed on the clip 51. This swing of the tone arm and its pin 112 causes the pin to strike the lever 108 of the switch to swing the lever 108 into the notch 107'.V of the lever 107 andY permit the spring 110 to draw the levers 107 and 108 peated.

'Simultaneously with this together thereby disengaging the contacts 101 4 and 2 and stopping the motor 5. Atthe Sametime the cam 118 has been so far rotated as; to, bring the recess 119 opposite theroller 123'Fof the follower` permitting the roller 123 toy snap int-o the recess under the influence of thesprings 152 and 145 thereby throwing the lifting lever 128 downwardly to the full line position shown in Figure y5. This permits the tone arm to lower about its trunnlons" and as it lowers the arm 131 swingswith it disengaging the brake shoe 132 from the turn table to permit the turn table to rotate prior to the engagement of the stylus of the reproducer with the record on theI turn table.

-The descent of the reproducer` is cushioned by the dash pot to prevent injurious contact between the needle and the record. The

record is then played andthe tone arm 'traverses the record in the usual manner and when the playing of the record has been completed th`s same cycle of operations is re- When `'ever the machine is operated for playing the plurality of records successively the manually operable switch 101 is closed and at such time` the auxiliary automatic switch 102 has no effect whatsoever on the operation' since it merely controls the shunted path around the manually operable switch.

The primary control of the transfer drive resides in the switch as whenever this switch is open the transfer motor circuit cannot be comple-ted. Hence, even if both the manually operable switch 101 and the auxiliary automatic switch 1.02 are closed the transfer motor' 4will not be operated unless and' until the contacts 1001i, 100h are closed. For this reason in describing the ordinary automatic operat'on of the. machine the auxiliary automatic switch has been ignored and-the manually operable switch assumed to be closed.

If now the manually loperable switch 101 is opened while therecord is being played, the playing of the record will be continued until the record is completely played. While the record is being played the gripper on the top run of the adjacent transfer vchain has passed the operating lever 103 and consequently the lever 103 is released and biased with the spring 104 to press the contacts 102a and 1,021- of the auxiliary automatic switch 1-02 into engagement. It follows that when the playing of a record is completed the switch 102 is closed and as at this time the pin 112 closes the contacts 100a, 100 the transfer l' motor circuit will b e completed notwithstanding the open conditionof the switch 101 and the`current flows from the power line P",

through the motor and its field, through the wire 100,', contacts 100a'and 100", wire 101', wire 103', contacts 102a and 102", and wire 102', back to the other power linevP.. The.

consequent operation of the transfer motor causes the transfer chains to be driven, the

the turn table the lug o on one of its gripy pers engages the lever 103 and rocks the lever to permit the contacts 102a and 102b to separate thereby breaking the transfer motor circuit and stopping all operation. As before y described, whenever the transfer chains begin and in fact to operate to effect the transfer operation, the

main cam automatically applies the turn table brake and consequently all operations have now ceased.

To renew operation of the machine it is necessary to close the manually operable switch 101 and this causes the current to flow through the transfer motor, the current flowing from the power line P', through the motor and its field, and thence through the Wire 100', contacts 100a and 1001, wire 101", and

switch 101, back to the other power line P. Thus, the transfer motor 75 is again operated to drive the transfer chains and advance.

the record to the turn table on which it is deposited in the manner described. This movement of the record to the turn table repositions the reproducer and thev repositioning of the reproducer involves a swinging of its pin 112 to open the contacts 100, 1-00b and consequently. break the transfer motor circuit. As long as the switch 101 is left closed the automatic operation continues.

'Storage rack feed and guide During the record transferring operation just shortly after a played record is moved ofi'l of the turn table, the storage rack is advanced to feed the next record to the discharge end of the storage rack and this advance is effected by means of a step by step motion associated with the storage rack and actuated by lugs 172 provided on the spring clips 50, 51, 52 and 53 carried by the transfer chain 41. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, each strip of the storage rack has a tooth 160 embedded therein and projecting down through the belt 31 into the slot 39il (see Figure 8). With these teeth a pawl 161 coacts,`

the pawl being pivoted as at 162 on a crank arm 163 fixed toa rock shaft 164. A spring 165 is fixed to the crank arm 163 and engages a pin 166 on the pawl 161 to urge the p'awl into engagement with the teeth 160. The shaft 164 has'a gear wheel 167 fixed theretorand meshing with a pinion 168 pivotally mounted on the adjacent side plate and having an arm 169 fixed thereto and urged against a stop 170 by means of a spring 171. This arm 169 is disposed in the path of the lugs 172 and these lugs 172 periodically engage the arm 169 to rock it and `thereby actuate the pawl 161 to advance the storage rack.

- the side places and having During their advance fromv the receiving end of the storage rack to the discharge end thereof, the records pass between longitudinal guides designated enerally at 173 and 174. The guide 173 is xed and has its ends 173 extended at right angles to themajor portion of the guide and riveted or otherwise suitably fastened to the low cross members 68 which reinforce the guide rail 61 for the clips at the ends of the frame.

The guide 174 has the form of an elongated plate and is hingedly supported as at 175 on the frame. The hinges 175 may be spring hinges or if desired separate springs may be employed for the purpose of urging the guide 17-'1L over into cooperative'relation with the records. By swinging the guide 174 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fgure 1, it is disengaged from the records in the storage rack and this permits of the removal of the records from or the placing of records in` the storage rack. The opening of the side plate 7 is sufiiciently large to comprehend the entire extent of the upper run of the storage rack so that the filling of the storage rack to its full capacity with records as well as the removal of all of the records therefrom is facilitated. A

Separate/r amlgm'de for returned records When the records are returned tothe storinto the storage rack is prevented from foul-v ing the records already therein as it slides down over the finger 180 and into its proper pocket. At this time the top plate 141 is held elevated and. when it 'lowers the motion of its lifting fingers is transmitted to the guide finger 180 to lift it over the record last placed in the storage rack.

(hantering means for record lVhen the record is released by the grippers for deposit on the turn table it is usually centered right over the pinof the turn table and drops into position without any difficulty but in some instances the record, during the time it is being lifted or gripped, may'become slightly displaced downwardly and as llt a consequence its center hole lies to the left 4 of the turn table as viewed in Figure 2. To insure proper positioning of the record on the turn table under such circumstances, a pair of centering iingers'190, are provided and are fixed toa rock shaft 191 journaled in a crank arm 192 fixed to one end thereof exteriorly of the side plates. This crank arm 192 connectsby a link 193 to a rocking lever 194 fulcrumed as at 195 on the side plate.- A spring 196 coacts with the lever 194 to urge it to such a position y as to swing thengers 190 down below the'.

top 141. The fingers 190 pass' through slots 197 in the top 141. The lugs 17'2 provided on the chain 41 engage 4the laterally offset end of the lever 195 at the proper time to move it' to operate the centering fingers.

Summary of the operation the main cam in motion; The main cam 118 v' operates at this time to elevate the tone arm 2l and apply the turn table brake 132 and it also elevates the table top 141. This action of the main cam occurs `just before the motion of the 4transfer chains 41 and 42 has moved the clips 51 and 51 olf of their cam 69. Just as soon as the arms 56 of these clips 51 and 51 move off ofthe cam 69 the lclips grip the record vand lift it up slightly and then carry it along with the transfer chains toward the receiving end of the discharge station. During this movement of the transfer chains the clips 50 and 50 which` have previously gripped the record at the dis. charge end of the storage rack carry their f' record up over the top 141 and along the same 'until their record overlies the turn table. As the clips 50 and 50 approach the 4turn table with their record the lug 155 of the clip 51 engages the pin 112 and swings the pin and tone arm connected thereto until the tone arm is returned to initial playing position. As the tone arm approaches the initial playing position the 'pin 112 moving therewith engages the lever 108 of the switch to break the motor circuit and stop the transfer drive. At this time the cam 118 has completed a revolution so that the roller 123 again snaps into the recess 119 thus permitting the tone arm to lower onto the record and releasing the turn table brake to permit the spring motor to drive the turn table. Simultaneously, with the release of the brake and the releasev of the tone arm for lowering the top 141 is permitted'to lower. A p 55 As the clips 50 and 50 approach the turn -table nwith their record the clips 53 and 53 are traveling up the runs of the chains 41 and 42 located on the opposite sides of the discharge end of the storage rack and after being spread to pass over the edges of the record at the discharge end of the rack are released by the cam 65 and grip the record and elevate it slightly. These clips 53 and 53 hold the record in this position until the 65 next operation when they advance the record to the turn table. The clips 51 and 51 which carry" the record from the turn table back to the receiving endA of the storage'rack in the cycle of theoperation shown "and described are stopped in a position just above their cams their record on the turn table and Vthclug155 on the clip has stopped the' transfer drive. 1n this position the lower edge of the record is located labove the 'tops of the transverse the storage rac-k to beadvanced without fouling the record carried by the 'clips 51 and 51. The'advance of the storage rack is effected asdescribed by the lug 172 of'the clip 53 shortly after the clips `Sland 51 move off ofthe turn table with theirre'cord.

The invention claimed isz,y

l.. An apparatus for playing a plurality of l records comprising record playingjmeans, 'a storage station for the records, transfer means for `taking a record from the storage station and transferring it to the record play ing means 'and vice versa, a drive'for the transfer means, means controlled by the record playing means when the playing of a record is completed to start said transfer .drive 'and directly controlled by the record playing means when the parts thereof are positioned to initiate the playing of a record to stop said transfer drive, and means controlled by the transfer means for moving the parts of the record playing means to initial playing position upon completion of a record transfer operation.

2. An apparatus for playing a plurality of 'records comprising record playing means, a storage station for the records, transfer means fortaking a record from the storage station and transferring it to the record playing means and vice versa, a drive for the transfer means, means controlled by the record playing means when the' playing of a record is completed to start said transfer drive and directly controlled by the record playing ymeans when the parts thereof are positioned to initiate the playing of a record to stop said transfer drive, mea-ns controlled by the transfer means f-or moving Athe `parts of the record playing means to initial laying position upon completion ofa recor transfer operation, and means operated in syn when 'the' clips v50 and 50 have deposited f kstrips 34 of the storage rack and this permits chronism with the transfer means for startdrive and directly controlled by the record playing means when the parts vthereof are positioned to initiate the vplayingof a record the transfer means for advancing the records in the storage station each time a record is transferred and during a transferring operation.

4. An apparatus for playing a plurality of records comprising record playing means including a motor driven turn table, an arm traversing the turn table, and a control regulating the starting and stopping of the turn table, a storage station for the records, transfer means for taking a record from the storage station and transferring it to the turn table and vice versa, an electric motor driving the transfer means, a switch controlled by said arm for causing said motor to start and stop, means operated in synchronism with the transfer means for raising and lowering said arm and for operating the control for the turn table to start and stop the turntable, means carried by the transfer means for swinging the arm, when elevated, to initial playing position,

n 5. An apparatus for playing a plurality ofrecords comprising record playing means including a turn table, an arm traversing the turn table, and a control for the turn table, an endless storage rack for the records, transfer means for taking a record from the storage rack and transferring it to the turn table and vice versa, an electric motor for driving said transfer means, a. switch controlled by said arm for causing said motor to start and stop, means operated in synchronism with the transfer means for raising and lowering said arm and for operating the control for the turn table, means carried by the transfer means for swinging the arm, when elevated, to initial pla ing position, 'and mechanism actuated by the transfer means for advancing the storage rack.

6. An apparatus for successively playing a plurality of records comprising a record storage statlon, a turn table, sound reproducing means cooperable therewith, transfer means for taking a record from the storage station and transferring it to a turn table and for simultaneously taking a. record from the turn table and returning it to the storage station, a' drive for said transfer means, a control for said transfer drive governed in its action by the sound reproducing mechanism and infiuenced thereby to start the transfer drive when the playing of a record is completed, and means cooperable with said control for stopping the transfer drive upon completion of a record transferring operation.

7. An apparatus for successively playing a plurality of records comprising a storage station for the records, a turn table on which the records are played, sound reproducing mechanism vadapted to coact with records on the lturn table, a control regulating the drive,

of the turn table, means for raising and lowering the sound reproducing mechanism, transfer means for taking a record from the storage station and transferring it to the turn table and for taking a record from the tlrn table and returning it -to the storage station, a transfer drive for actuating said transfer means, a control for said transfer drive governed in its action by thesound reproducing mechanism and influenced thereby to start the transfer drive when the playing of a record is completed, means coope-rable with the transfer drive control for stopping the transfer drive vupon completion of a record transferring operation, and a single cam operated in synchronism with the transfer means for controlling the operation of the raising and lowering means and the operation of the'turn table drive control.

. 8. An apparatus for successively playing a plurality of records comprising a storage station forthe records, a turn table on which the records are played, sound reproducing mechanism adapted to coact with records on the turn table, a control regulating the drive of the turn table, transfer means for taking a record from the storage station and transferring it to the turn table and for taking a record from the turntable and returning it to the storage station, ay transfer drive for actuating said transferl means, a control for said transfer drive governed in its action by the sound reproducing mechanism and the transfer means and influenced thereby to start the transfer drive when the playing'of: a record is completed and to stop the transfer drive when a record transferring operation is completed, and means -operated in synchronism with the transfer means for con` trolling the operation of the turn table drive control.

9. An apparatus for successivelyv playing a plurality of records comprising a storage station for the records, a turntablevon which the records are deposited for playing, sound reproducing mechanism adapted to coact with therecords deposited on the turn table, a plurality of sets of grippers positively engageable with the records and simultaneously operable for transferring a record from the storage station to the turn table-and from the turn table back to the storage station, and means for automatically shifting said grippers.

10. An apparatus for playing a plurality of records comprising a turn table, a reproducer cooperabl'e therewith, a storage rack located below the turn table, a flexible and endless transfer device extending past the receiving and the discharge ends of the storage'rack and past the turn table, spaced sets fil' of` grippers carried by Ithe transfer device and engageable With:v the records for transferring themfrom therack to the turn table land vice versa, and fixed and spaced cams cooperable with the grippers at the receiving and discharge ends of he rack and at the turn tablefor causing the grippers to en.- gage and release the records automatically at the proper times.'r

11. An apparatus for successively playing a plurality of records comprising a storage station for the records, a turn table on which the records are deposited for playing,'sound reproducing mechanism` adapted to vvcoactl with the records deposited on the turn table, and a single set of 4endless transfer devices for simultaneously carrying a record from the lstorage station to the turn table and back from the turn .table to the storage station.

l2. An apparatus for successively playing a plurality of records comprising a storage station for the records, a turn table on which the recordsare deposited for playing,

sound reproducing mechanism adapted tov coactwith the records deposited on the turn table, a single set ofv endless transfer members cooperably disposed with respectto the storage station and with respect to the turn table, spaced sets of grippers carried by the endless transfer members and operable to grip a record in the storage station and transfer it to the turn table and to grip a record on the turn table and return it to the storage station, respectively, and means for automatically shifting the endless transfer members when the playing of a record has been completed.

13. An apparatus for successively playing a plurality of records comprising a storage station for the records, a turn table on which the records are deposited for playing, sound reproducing mechanism adapted to coact with the records deposited on the turn table, and a single set of endless transfer chains having means acting to lift a record fr'om the turn table and return it to the storage station and to simultaneously transfer a record from the storage station to the turn table, all upon the completion of the playing of the record on the turn table.

14. An apparatus for successively playing a plurality of records comprising a storage station for the records having a receiving end and a discharge end, a'turn table on which the records are successively deposited for playing, sound reproducing mechanism adapted to coact with the records deposited on the turn table, and an endless transfer device for successively taking records from the discharge end of the storage station and transferring them to the turn table for playing and for successively taking played records from the turn table and returning them to the receiving end of the storage station.

15. An apparatus for successively playing a plurality of recordsV comprising a storage station for the records having a receiving end and a discharge end, a turn table on which the records are'successiv'ely deposited a plurality of records comprising a storage statlon for the records, a turntable, soundr reproducing means cooperable therewith, and

`a single transfer means for transferring a played record from the turn table to the storage station and for simultaneously transfer# ring another record from the storage station to the turn table.

17. An apparatus for successively playing a plurality .of`records comprising a recor storage station, a turn table, sound reproducing means cooperable therewith, endless transfer chains disposed in operative relation to the storage station and 4turn table, sets of spring clips carried by said chains and adapted to grip` the records, and means for opening said cllps to permit them'to grip and yrelease the records at the proper time.

18. An apparatus for successively playing a plurality of records comprising an endless storage rack for ztherecords', a turn table, sound reproducing means cooperable with the turn table, a pair of endless transfer members cooperatively disposed with respect to the storage rack and turn table, spaced sets of grippers carried by the endless'transfer members and adapted to grip the records, andv means for causing the grippers to engage and release the records at the proper times. y

19. An apparatus for successively playing a plurality of records comprising an endless storage rack for the records, a turn table, sound producing means cooperable with the turn table, a pair of endless transfer members cooperatively disposed with respect to the storage rack and turn table,vspaced sets of grippers carried by theendless transfer niembers and adapted to grip the records, means for causing the grippers .to engage and re-` lease the records at the proper times, and

means for advancing the storage rack-each time a record'is taken from the turntable.

20. An apparatus for playinga plurality 4of records including a storagerack .comprising an endless belt and transverse strips secured tol the belt and providing record pockets, and means for advancing the storage rack lsa including a tooth engagedbwith each strip and projecting in .through the endless belt to the interior thereof, a pa'wl cooperable with the tooth and means for intermittently act-uating the pawl.

21. An apparatus for playing a plurality of records comprising aturn table, a reproducer cooperable therewith, an endless storage rack located below the turn table, a pair of flexible endless transfer members having runs ,extending past the opposite sides of the turn table and runs extending past the opposite sides of the storage rack at the ends thereof, and grippers carried by the transfer members and positively engageable with the records for transferring the records from the storage rack to the turn table and from the turntable back to the storage rack.

22. An apparatus for playing a plurality of records comprising a turn table` a reproducer cooperable therewith, an endless storage rack located below the turn table, a. pair of flexible endless transfer members having runs .extending past the opposite sides of the turn table and runs extending past the opposite sidesfof the storage rack at the ends thereof, and grippers carried by the transfer members andpositively engageable with the records for transferring the records from the storage rack to ythe turn table and from the turn table back to the storage rack, a vertically shiftable top arranged between the runs of the transfer members extending past the turn table and aiding the transfer chains in holding the record above the turn table durling the transfer operation and means for raising the top during the record transferring operations and for lowering the top when a record 'is being played.

23. An apparatus for playing a plurality of records comprising a turn table, means for rotating the .turn table, a reproducer coopera- A'ble therewith, supporting means for the reproducer permitting it to swing horizontally and vertically, a storage station for the records, record transfer means between the storage station and the turn table, an arm connected to thesupporting means and constraining the same to partake of the vertical turn table ope-rated by the arm and effective*l to regulate the starting and stopping of the turn table, means for lifting the arm to elevate the tone arm and apply the brake, and

a ldashpot for retarding the lowering of the arm whereby the turn table acquires appropriatespeed of rotation before the reproducer engages the record.

25. An apparatus for playing a plurality of records, comprising record playing means, astorage station -for the records, transfer means for taking the record from the storage station and transferring it to the record playing means and vice versa, an electric motor for drivingY the transfer means, a. circuit for said motor, a main automatic switch and a manually operable switch incorporated in said circuit, said circuit having a shunt path around said manually operable switch, an

auxiliary automatic switch incorporated in' said shunt path, means operated by the record playing means for controlling the main automatic switch, and means operated by the transfer means for controlling the auxiliary automatic switch.

In witness whereof, I hereto affix my signature.

CARL L. FERGUSON.4`

swinging movement thereof, a brake for the turn table operated by the arm and effective to regulate the starting and stopping of the turn table, and means for raising the arm when the playing of a record is completed and for lowering the arm when a new record is deposited on the turn table in position for playing. l

24. An apparatus for playing a plurality of records comprising a turn table, means for `rotating the turntable, a reproducer cooperable therewith, supporting means for the reproducer permitting it to swing horizontally and vertically, a storage station for the records, record transfer means between the storage station and the turn table, an arm connected to the supporting means and constraining the same to partake of the verticalswinging movement thereof, a brake for the 'nfI 

